2020 Chateau Musar Hochar Père et Fils, Lebanon, Bekaa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

Chateau Musar is an amazing winery located in Lebanon.  This is their introductory value wine.  It is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon from a single vineyard with vines averaging 30 years of age.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, balsamic (volatile acidity?), black olives and black raspberries.  Complex.  Ripe.  Medium bodied.  Medium tannins.  Nice balance.  On the palate, black cherries, black raspberries and a bit of raisin.  Long finish.  For the money, this is a great value.  This is drinking well now

1993 Chateau Musar, Lebanon, Bekaa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1993
Score: 
97
Grade: 

This had been given a long decant (5 hours) and then double decanted back into the bottle.  It was just right.  Really an awesome showing for this wine.  It is a blend of 1/3 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1/3 Cinsault, and 1/3 Carignan.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has just a touch of volatile acidity which really serves to lift the aromas.  There is also some Brettanomyces (barnyard notes) but not really much to speak of.  Also, plenty of cassis, cherries, red currants, dust and spice.  Full bodied.  Light tannins but mostly resolved.  Bright acidity.  On the palate, th

2015 Chateau Musar, Lebanon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Sitting in a wine bar in Charlotte, NC, I got up to peruse the shelves and found a single bottle of this for $80.  Despite it's youth, the opportunity could not be passed up.  It is an equal blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsault from vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya on gravelly soils over limestone.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose seemed very clean with black cherries, cassis, slight char and vanilla.  Medium tannins.  Full bodied.  Good balance.  On the palate, cassis and black cherries with underlying spice and slight cho

2016 Chateau Musar Hochar Père & Fils, Lebanon, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

This is a second wine of Chateau Musar.   It is a blend of Cinsault (50%), Grenache (35%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). Purple in color, ruby at the rim with some browning.  Dusty with black cherries on the nose.  The palate has a nice texture.  Black cherry fruit with a dry earthiness.  Tannic.  This has a nice complexity that indicates there is some upside to this wine.  It should improve a bit and be good for the next seven to ten years.  It should go well with stews or burgers or even pastas.  

2013 Domaine des Tourelles Marquis des Beys, Lebanon, Bekaa Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a 50/50 Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon blend from the Bekaa valley in Lebanon.  It is a reasonably priced wine and well worth the price of admission.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, spice and a bit of char.  On the palate, this is tasty with black raspberry fruit.  This is about easy drinking in the near term.  No tannins.  It probably needs to be drunk soon at this point (it is already six years old).  It will go with a wide variety of foods.  Obviously mid-eastern foods come to mind, but it will work well with Indian foods too.  

Lebanon Wine Vintage Charts

Lebanon 2009 92 D/H 2008 89 D/H 2007 92 D/H 2006 90 D/H 2005 88 D 2004 92 D/H 2003 92 D/H 2002 89 D 2001 87 D 2000 93 D 1999 93 D 1998 86 D 1997 91 D 1996 92 D 1995 95 D 1994 88 D 1993 93 D 1992 87 D 1991 96 D 1990 92 D 1989 88 D 1986 88 D 1978 90 D 1966 89 D Vintage Charts should be used for a...

Lebanese Wine - Vintage Chart

2006 90 D/H 2005 88 D/H 2004 92 D/H 2003 92 D/H 2002 89 D/H 2001 87 D/H 2000 93 D 1999 93 D/H 1998 86 D 1997 91 D 1996 92 D 1995 95 D 1994 88 D 1993 93 D 1992 87 D 1991 96 D 1990 92 D 1989 88 D 1986 88 D 1978 90 D 1966 89 D Vintage Charts should be used for a generalized guide in lieu of specific...

Wine from Lebanon: History, Varietals, and Producers

When one thinks of wine producing regions, seldom is Lebanon at the top of the list. Yet, few places in the world have a longer tradition of winemaking. Wine has been made in Lebanon for at least 5,000 years since the Phoenicians domesticated grapes. Lebanon was, of course, part of the biblical land of Canaan. Jesus changed water into wine there at the wedding of Cana.